The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-24
DIR. MILLER SENTENCED.
From. the Pulpit to Pennsylvania Penis
Tertiary for Seyen-Year Term.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 22.-Ths Rev. Dr.
Thomas B. Miller, NJ. D., pastor Of the Shiloh
Independent Methodist Church. Fourth street,
near Cambria and presiding elder of the Inde-
pendent Methodist Church for the district en-
braced in Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Delaware.
and Maryland, was sent to the eastern peniteu-
siary to-day to serve out sentence Of seven
years. Judge Arnold imposed the sentence upon
Miller after he had been convicted of caus-
ing the death Of Mrs. Sarah Ellen Robinson by
committing criminal operation.
Sarah Ellen Robinson lived at the homo Of
her mo other-in-law, at 61s Fairhill street, near
Sixth and Huntingdon streets. Last June.
while she was lying sick in bed, she sent for
DR.. Miller to call upon her. After that Miller
visited the house four times. coming and going
secretly. Mrs. Robinson gradually grew worse
and finally the family physician, Dr. William
h Mattern, was called in. He found that the
woman mad undergone an operation and that
she was about to die. Mrs. Robinson refused
10 say any thing. but Dr. Mattern finally wrung
from her a confession that Miller had visited
her four times.
Acting this information, Lieutenant Scott
arrested Miller and took him to the bedside of
the dying woman. The arrest made about
o'clock on Sunday morning, June 2I AS soon
as Miller entered the room he advanced to the
bedside of Mrs. Robinson and said: Dear Mrs.
Robinson. didn't do anything to you, did ~
Lieutenant Scott interrupted him saying, Let
me ask this question:" and, turning to Mrs. Rob-
inson, said: is this the that performed
the operation your and she answered, Yes"
Miller was then taken away and locked up, and
that same day Mrs. Robinson died.
In the trial to-day the defense set up for the
defendant was that Miller was fifty eight years
of age; that he WAS minister of the gospel and
had been for thirty-six years; that at the time
of his arrest he was pastor OF an Independent
Methodist church. which he built mostly with
his own money. and that he had been prac-
titioner OF medicine 1t admitted that he
had treated Mrs. Robinson. but only in such a
manner any reputable citizen would
treat patient in her condition,
and that ne had by the
of drugs instruments committed criminal
malpractice upon her. nor had he attempted to
do All these matters were testified to by
the defendant in his own behalf. On his quail
fcations as a physician Miller s8id he a
graduate of the PHILADELPHIA College Of Medicine
and Surgery and was dean OF IL for a while, and
that he also a graduate of the ST. Louis
Medical College. Miller made a personal appeal
TO the judge for mercy. ''If you" he said
promise you that will never again practice
in prison have suffered mentally and physic-
ally. lily family In distress. My friends are
distressed"
Miller was formerly pastor of the Eden Meth
odist Church, at Fourth street and Lehigh ave-
nue.. and was tried several charges. He was
expelled, and appealed 10 tho higher church au-
thorities but before the second trial came off he
dropped the matter, and Joined the Independent
Methodists.